Finally scrapbooking again.


This is a pic of me from 2000 (ages ago) I was lying on the floor, some very groovy paper - can't remember the brand but I got it from ScrapNeeds. This one is titled "I need Sleep" How cute is that little owl??





This one is obviously Sheena Geary. Had a lot of fun with rubons in this one.
"All is good when you are nearly 2"









This is the canvas that Mark and I painted when he was home sick. Its really bad, but we are not into Halloween in Australia and its the first time I have every done anything like that before. I'm quite happy with the little ghost saying BOO.








This is the first page I have done for Lauren's sister - its a total scraplift of Charmane Otto.
















This one is using Urban Lily paper, very easy but VERY nice.














This was me messing around last night, don't think I like it, but hey its a page.














School Dance "A Night at the Movies"
This is Mark's class dancing to "Walk like an Egyptian", his is the only face you can see in that picture. Also in the other photos, wow that was an accident, I did a point and click at the group he was dancing with - imagine only getting him to keep in line with the child protection laws. It was a good night, weather was very kind, picnic was good (although it was ham and not a roast chicken as requested). Mark is not destined to be a dancer - I know that now!

Fed Up

Not really sure what else to call this post.
Insomnia is playing a major part of my life at the moment. Here I am at 2.11am not even really feeling that tired, just fed up. I have to be up at 5.45 for work as I'm starting at 7am.
I'm not functioning the way a real person should. What am I to do?
Another trip to the doctor, and for what? More drugs.

Other than that, home is good. Family is happy. I'm totally addicted to Facebook and I'm not really even sure why! Truthfully, I haven't seen most of the school people in over 16 years, our similarities are we sat in a classroom all those years ago and read books, learned maths and did science experiments together. Work friends I see most days anyway! Oh well its an excuse not to do anything else.

A super huge positive - Mark got STUDENT OF THE WEEK I'm one proud mama. Its for good bookwork - but to be honest I think it was his turn. This week is the only week all year that the boy did not bring home a school newsletter, how am I supposed to scrap it.

That would mean I was scrapping, which I am not cos I'm playing on Facebook and talking to Kathryn and Ella on Skype! Hmmm, I need to readjust I think.

Sorry for the ramblings of an overtired 34-year-old. That saying is not only for 2 year olds!!!

Overuse of exclamation marks Christy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Another little cool cookie.

1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (first pet & current car) Goldie Patrol

2.YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (fave ice cream flavor, favorite cookie) Chocolate Tim Tam

3. YOUR “FLY Guy/Girl” NAME: (first initial of first name, first three letters of your last name) C.Lan

4. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal) Green Dog

5. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you were born), Dawn Lahr

6. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 3 letters of your first) Lanchr

7. SUPERHERO NAME: (”The” + 2nd favorite color, favorite drink), The Pink Coke Zero

8. NASCAR NAME: (the first names of your grandfathers) Arthur James

9. STRIPPER NAME: ( the name of your favorite perfume/cologne/scent, favorite chocolate bar) LuLu Boost

10.WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother’s & father’s middle names ) Anne Brian

11. TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME: (Your 5th grade teacher’s last name, a major city that starts with the same letter) Bell Boston

12. SPY NAME: (your favorite season/holiday, flower). Spring Tulip

13. CARTOON NAME: (favorite fruit, article of clothing you’re wearing right now + “ie” or “y”) Raspberry Cargoie

14. HIPPY NAME: (What you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree), Yogurt Elm

15. YOUR ROCKSTAR TOUR NAME: (”The” + Your fave hobby/craft, fave weather element + “Tour”),The Scrapbook Storm Tour


Clever!

Making me laugh.

Who does this best? Its my boy.

Yesterday he had his first cricket training. They got heaps of goodies as its "Milo Have A Go" promotion, and Cricket Australia is sure focusing on kids. He got a tshirt, hat, cricket bat and ball, drink bottle, sweat bands, badge. It was like Christmas for the boy. Anyway that isn't what made me laugh.

We stopped at Coles on the way home and bought my cheat dinner (Roast Chook) and going back to the car he said to me "Do you remember when I was a little boy and I thought nipples were called NIBBLES". I nearly wet myself on the spot. #1 a nine year reminiscing about when he was young. #2 why does he recall bizarre things all the time. #3 Yes he did think they were called nibbles and it freaked me out each time he said it which was frighteningly often.

I laughed so hard I snorted, he cracked up too... well I guess you had to be there.

:)

Cool

What do you think?

Did I mention??

What a gorgeous bod my little boy has.

We went to the beach with friends of ours on Sunday, they have a son just a year younger than Mark and he is very much a little boy - and I reckon he has a version of ADHD he is so disagreeable, when I see this kid I know we have no problems with Mark. Anyway I noticed Mel looking at Mark then she said "Wow Mark has a nice... ummm" and I said "Body?" yes she agreed, he has a six pack stomach and isn't too skinny or fat.

Just plain gorgeous I reackon

Just gorgeous

Mark and Sheena in the bath together.
Got out Mark's dolphins from when he was a baby and Sheena loves them.
That is me at the side there supervising the kids.

I'm over it.

What is it exactly???

COUGHING.

I have coughed for almost two weeks and the last 5 days have been horrible. Went to the doc on Sunday morning, who took a throat swab (it was karma getting me back for all of those NG tubes I place) and has given me a few days off work. Got the phone numbers of all of my patients from the clinic and canceled them yesterday. Had a super dooper coughing fit yesterday to the point of throwing up... aren't you glad I shared that tidbit of information.

So today, I have been resting.

Mark started back at school and he's all enthusiastic. Wore his new white shirt uniform and he looks gorgeous. Saw the ladies from OOSH and its nice to see them again.

Jamie had an interview for a job in Melbourne, but unfortunately not this time. Still looking for other jobs.

Must head off and rest some more :)

Home and its hot.

Welcome home to Newcastle. Had a lovely holiday with my mummy, daddy, little sister and Sheena the Punk Rocker.

Nice to see Jamie again, and he was slightly domesticated, did some washing, did some cooking, put the dishwasher on! Wonders never cease.

Today, Mark and I went shopping in the morning, got Jamie some new shorts (gee this is an exciting post) because our 4WD got broken into. Both of our cars had windows smashed in less than a month. But one was at home and the other at the boat ramp, so we don't need to move urgently. Mark got some new uniforms. I got some cupcake tins to foster my obsession - shall be cooking tomorrow, tis to hot today.

Mmmmm

Today my current dream was fulfilled.

I was in cupcake heaven. There is a tiny little shop at the Prahran Market called "Crabapple Bakery" and it only sold cupcakes. I had a dainty one called "Strawberry and Vanilla", Mum had a "Lemon Delight" Dad had "Lumberjack Cupcake" which obviously was a lumberjack cake with coconut icing. Mark had a "Halloween Cupcake" with bright purple icing and a jaffa and other lollies on it.

Well worth the trip and not quite as exxy as I was expecting.

Glenrowan

Day #2 of the holiday started off in the motel, we had a continental breakfast in the dining room (again Mark thought he was a king!). Off on the road again.

We stopped in a town called Glenrowan - the heart of Kelly country. As a rule I'm against the idolisation of Ned Kelly. I don't understand Australia's fascination with a cop killer and bush ranger. To be truthful, I didn't pay much attention at school. I don't know the Kelly side of things - why he turned to bushranging etc. But its a continual fascination. Somewhat like my Law & Order shows on tv which raise up murderers to cult level, the media's love of serial killers and Jack the Ripper, its all on a par. Anyway I have digressed.

During Year 3 in school there is a course on Australian history which includes the bushranging time and the king of the bush rangers is Ned Kelly. Glenrowan was where he lived and the shootout was in Glenrowan, the whole town is a celebration of his life and crimes.

We went to one of the museums and saw lots of "ye olde worlde" artefacts.

Here is another montage of photos of our day (quarter of a day) at Glenrowan.

Holiday Day #1

Mark, Mum, Dad and I left Newcastle on Monday morning after the grandfinal weekend!
We drove all day, traffic in Sydney was very good (thankyou for being a public holiday).
Nothing to report on the trip almost at all... very boring actually.
We spent the night in a motel in Albury, it was very nice, Mark loved it so much. He felt like a king.
This is a tiny montage to dinner out in Albury.

New Skills

Jamie showing Mark the correct way to push a mowe

Going out on his own

The look of satisfied concentration.

Yes you saw it here first, Mark is mowing the lawn! My little bloke is growing up and starting to do "man chores".

We had a very productive Saturday, the room is nearly done (do I sound like a broken record?), the vacuuming for the whole house is done. My bathroom is clean.

Tomorrow I'm going to Lollypops with some girls from work. Very excited about that. Need to get some scrapping done as well.

Happy Birthday to Me

I shall commence this post with a portrait I took of me and Mark today. I wanted to do a family portrait, but Jamie wouldn't play. Yes I agree Mark has big feet!

Today - well now its officially yesterday was my birthday. I'm now the glorious age of 34!
Luckily I don't feel that age, but hey what does feeling 34 feel. I'm still younger than my mum was when she had me! Quite amazing that. So fertility wise I'm not yet on the shelf (no you didn't just hear that Mum). I'm only 4 years into my career and its all going well. Two weeks time I'm on holidays, can't wait for that.

My new year to me resolutions...
Take care of myself.
Not *worry* about my legs so much.
Have some fun (starting by going out with the girls on Sunday)
Prevent dementia by exercising for half an hour 3 times a week.
Think about learning a new language - which one???

The Good, the Bad and the Very Very Annoying.

Good.

Sunny day.
Shortland Festival Day
Gardening.
Hanging out as a family.
Laughing with Mark.
Jamie has made me a customised banner

Bad.

The boat engine won't start.
The house is still a mess.
I think I'm sunburned.

The Very Very Annoying.

The computer room isn't painted yet - but almost.
The banner is a little bit short.

Ooops

I can't believe what I did today.

I left the iron on

Luckily the house is still standing, luckily all the insurances are paid. Luckily I found it now and not in the morning.
I ironed my work shirt at 6.30am and found it still on at 6.15pm. There was a heat emanating from the ironing board.

Challenging

Read this today and think its great!

Genetic Counselling:

"I'm very sorry, I have the results of the genetic tests and they have confirmed our suspicions that your foetus is what we call...Normal.
Some people prefer the terms "Ordinarily Challenged" or "Normal Syndrome". The syndrome can be easily identified by a complete lack of any interesting genetic characteristics. I know this will come as a shock to you, buy you should be aware of what this is likely to mean.

If your foetus manages to survive the rest of the pregnancy and the birth, which is becoming more common these days, he or she will face some daunting challenges. Children who suffer from normalcy are prone to heatlh and psychological problems. It is almost certain that the growing child will suffer a seemingly endless stream of viruses. They will frequently damge themselves, and sometimes others, from their excessive energy.

Their relentless demands will put a strain on your existing family and, of course, your relationship with your partner will suffer, and possibly end in a painful and acrimonious separation. Any children you already have, even if they also suffer from normalcy, will be jealous of the newcomer and all their extra attention. Many siblings are liable to be psychologically scarred by the new arrival.

I need hardly mention the financial consequences, although disastrous, they will be nothing compared to the emotional turmoil your life will suffer.

After a while, you may be lucky and find they can be kind and loving young children. They may find some temporary happiness in things such as music, dancing, food or playing with toys.
But if they survive early childhood, a Normal child is almost certain to grow into a Normal adolescent. Your years of sacrifice will be thrown back in your face as they become disobedient, wild and reckless. Unable to find happiness and contentment, they will treat you with contempt until they manage to leave home. Even then the suffering will continue as they will often return to try and extract money. They will blame you for their own faults and leave you bitter and twisted.

They may well become criminals, over a quarter of Normals will have trouble with the law, many will spend time in jail. Many will have problems with alcohol or drug abuse. Normal marriages are often unhappy and short and over half end in divorce.

Even if they become successful this is likely to be because of the often observed tendency of Normals towards excessive greed. The chances of them sharing their success with you are remote and they will tend to see you as an embarrassment.

Finally, Normal people are likely to die before their time. 23% will die of cancer, 33% of heart disease. Hundreds every year in this country alone are so distressed by their condition that they take their own life. I'm sorry to say that many will have had a lonely, painful and pointless existence.

I am afraid that Normal Syndrome is a genetic condition that affects every cell of the body, and so is impossible to cure."

By Anon. (In the printed version there's a warning at the top to say that this is intended to make a serious point in an interesting way and is not meant to offend anyone, except possibly a few doctors).

I'm doing a lot of blog surfing these days. Thanks for letting me into your lives people.

Saturday evening.

Mark is having a sleep over at Billy's house. Billy rang this arvo and said "Hello, is that Mark's mum? Can I please talk to Mark?"
Next thing the phone was handed to me, and Mark said, "This needs to be a mum to mum conversation!!" OH DEAR.

I double checked the boys would go to bed, and made the boy have a shower and off to Billy's he went. Very excited he was too.




A leg update.

AWFUL. Dr Singh has changed my meds, so now I'm on Sinemet and tapering off the rohypnol. Not happy Jan. What does this mean? I'm not sleeping, terribly cranky and the worst is.... the pain, ache, itch and annoyance of restless leg syndrome is back with 24 hour vengeance. I have a reflex test on Monday afternoon, so that should be interesting.

Pictures

Starting the undercoat. This was the wall where the plaster (Gyprock) was replaced and had to be smoothed so it doesn't look like four pieces stuck together.


More undercoating.


The half finished kennel. Just needs the roof, inside walls, insulation and air conditioning installed. They like it in the rain that is for sure.


Charlie is not very impressed!!



Cleaning off the dirt.



Skye looking for a way out


Our hydrobath. Makes washing dogs a pleasure... Sort of in the background you can tell I've got a pigtail, my tiger stripes are only barely noticable too.

Monday Musing.

• I hate passwords - you can't use the same one for everything, but you need to have a few, so trying to remember what one for which program is quite tiresome.

• Its really raining here

• I'm on Facebook. If its a fad, I'm there!

• Only 14 days to my birthday.
  

Some News.

No not pregnant yet!

Its only 17 days until I turn 34.

Yes I still get excited about my birthday, is that a crime.

Father's Day this Sunday, we got Jamie a new computer room chair, similar to the old one but without his *ass groove*.

Obsessions of the Lantz/Storer Family.

Jamie:

• Talking on the phone to Rocket - like every day
• Talking on the phone to his father - like every day
• Obsessing about his computer business MyNetHost
• Playing Battlefield
  
• Drinking tea or coke.

Christy:

• Tetris on Mark's game boy - my best score is 71,205 - bloody brilliant
• TV
• Blue Bazaar
• Blogs - my new favourite is Parkers
• Talking on the phone to my mum - like every day

Mark:

• Watching the Simpsons
• Playing the front yard with his "posse"
• Riding his bike
• Trying to weedle his way out of doing what he is supposed to do
• Asking for STUFF
• Looking at cool car photos on the internet
• Thinking about Christmas presents.
  

Messages

These are some pics from the Hunter Wetland Centre that Mark and I braved last weekend. It was lovely. I kept saying "ahh the serenity" from The Castle which suitably annoyed the boy. Mark took these photos himself, chose the locations and is happy with the results. Just after we left the wetland centre, it RAINED for two whole days.



















Love notes from Mark.

We are LIVE

Jamie and I have a new business. Webhosting and domain names. Very helpful staff, enthusiastic and full of suggestions.

Check it out here.......... MyNetHost

Special deal for readers of my blog!

Half price on annual webhosting plans

Contact me for discount code.

Check the site out and let me know if you'd suggest any changes.

Grumpy bums.

This morning I felt a bit assaulted. I brought it upon myself, I went to the American site 2peas which is scrap related. A few weeks ago there was a HUGE storm about Elsie Flanagan getting a divorce, now its all about Heidi Swapp moving to China, and a course I seriously considered doing, but the cost put me off. The girls on the 2peas forum are so nasty. I can't believe people actually act that way, saying horrible things about other people. Its like the Paris Hilton, or Lindsay Lohan, Brittany, just cos they are in the public eye means that they are ridiculed. I don't get it at all.

Gorgeousness

What do you reckon? He's getting his real face back (oops I haven't told the story in blogsphere - Mark stacked his bike and grazed his nose and he's had a REALLY bad case of chapped lips), his hair isn't as short and he's beautiful.




How about those eyes??

Can you tell....

My legs are playing up. Its 1.45am and I'm hyped up. Need to watch a movie or something. Ahh my taped version of Criminal Intent.

Hired "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" and realised two things.... I have never seen it before, and I really don't like it, not even a little bit. Do like the demeanor of Frankenfurter though, very camp and funny, the rest of it... not so much.

Gone a bit mad.

I'm blog crazy at the moment. Not sure why. I want to express myself and well this is my way. Wish I was as into scrapbooking as I am into blogging. Need to share some recent LOs soon.

The Syndromes.

This is a funny conversation I had with Mark a couple of months ago. It was when I was in a bad part of depression, and had some *strange* thinkings... if you know what I mean.
Anyway I was reading the newspaper about how children call 000 (or 911) for their parents in case of emergency.

Me: Mark what would you do if you found Mummy on the floor and you couldn't wake her up.

Mark: I'd call 000

Me: What would you tell them.

Mark: My name and that I couldn't wake my mum.

Me: They would need to know where we live.

Mark: OK I know that (I won't put that info on the internet at this time)

Me: They would also want to know if Mum has any health problems, do you know the name of the illness Mummy has?

Mark: Oh yes I know that one, you have Down Syndrome

Me: Close, its called Restless Leg Syndrome. Sheena has Down Syndrome.


He was so proud of himself knowing what my Syndrome was. He's a clever little chook, he understands to his level Sheena's condition, he recognises other people in the street with DS, and not in a bad way, just recognising that they look similar to his dear little cousin. He dutifully looks whenever Nan or Aunty Jo sends through a picture of Sheena saying "OOOH isn't she cute"

When I told him we'd be going down to Melbourne together for the holidays... oh not again. I explained how I really want to see Sheena... "Mum she looks just like in the photos." But I can't cuddle her I explained.

"Cuddle the photo"

The newish me.

Hair.

I'm going to get my hair done today.
My greys are showing a bit too much for my liking and I haven't had a colour for a LONG time. Going for some foils... should be interesting.
My hair has gotten quite long, I can pull it back in a pigtail, but the sides still fall out, so not quite there yet. But its at the stage where people are starting to say "ooh your hair is long now".
Ooops forgot Mark's eyedrops this morning. He has lingering sore eyes from his flu episode, and the doc prescribed eye drops. Mark went into his normal PANIC and didn't want me to put any in... so I said to him, put a drop in my eyes and see my reaction. I have not put anything in my eyes since I was in year 11 at school! I couldn't remember if it hurt, but the things we do as a mother. He was surprised by my reaction. I guess he thought that if I didn't die on the spot, it would be ok for me to put the drops in his eyes.
Crying and a bit of panic... one drop in.... a grimace and then oh... that was ok. Now he happily opens his eyes for the drops. He is a very odd kid. Probably not, but he's eccentric!

Scroll down.

Photo of Mark E Lantz with his haircut!!!

Oh bugger.

Insomnia again.
RLS again.
Wantiing to cry again for the first time in 2 months.
Its 1.20am and I'm due to be up at 6.30 and be perky for work.
OH DEAR...
Quick shifts are not designed for me.

Not too happy with the final episode of Grey's Anatomy...
I knew Preston Burke was leaving, fitting that he chose it and not Christina, they were so unsuited, never understood their relationship. George failed his intern exam (makes sense, he's lost his dad and got married and had an affair), oops I forgot this show is a tv show not real life.

Very unhappy that "What about Brian" is cancelled. They can do more with this show! I really enjoyed it and surprisingly enough so did Jamie.

Excited that Kath and Kim is back next week!!


Yes the musings of an exhausted tv addict... better go and watch some more and try and go to sleep with out kicking my legs off.

Hot bath was useless.... I think I'm willing to try the camphor and a penny! It f**king rediculous (oops that is the Tourette's coming out)

Sharing

Here are some photos from the last week.

Who is reading this?

Leave a comment so I know. It will be interesting so see who reads it.

I know I did this a little while ago, with a resounding not very many people, but hey I'll try it again.

Washing

4 loads today and still going!

www.uoguelph.ca/~wrs/Images/clothesline.jpg

Feeling Crafty.

I *needed* a square punch! Yes that is correct, I needed it. So I went to Crafter's World in Wallsend, cos I knew they sold punches. They are closing down! 40% off everything in store. This is what I got. A canvas for my project (well that was from the junk shop), a wire rack for my papers!!! Very excited about that one, my square punch and some black paint - also for the project.

So TODAY is all about THE PROJECT. I'll be rifling through all my old photos and punching them out. Very very excited, so the battle against the computer will be won today, its all about scrapbooking today. I don't care that it is sunny and beautiful outside, my creativity is at a peak and I'm off!

Worth a listen

Heard this on the radio yesterday, and it cracked me up. Click on the link and you get a very funny joke, well the joke isn't so funny, the way it is told is hilarious. There is a bit of cricket commentary as well, just adds to it.

Its well worth a listen.

Cleaning and work

Bit of a bummer, but got rid of a lot of crap.
Going to work this arvo.
I don't like working on Sundays.

Photos.

This is to lessen the importance of the last post (sorry mum).

These are some photos from the budding photographer MARK, he enjoys taking photos of his cars from the ground so they look like real cars, and there are a couple from the school disco.

Strange Reminiscence

Its been 10 years since I made the decision to travel with "the Frenchman". Its a little over 10 years as I left in June. Its weird to think it was that long ago. I quit my job, left my sister to sort out our rented house (I think she may have forgiven me), left my sanity... and gained a gorgeous boy.

It was a weird scenario. I didn't know Vincent at all. We met and parted on the same day and I fell head over heels in love. Made all these plans with him without the ability to actually talk to him. Then went to NZ for three months. Was treated like a piece of *&$% by a farm manager who didn't like us.

Hitch-hiked various places, bought an OLD car, actually it was the same age as me, but for a car that is old. It was a manual stationwagon. I had never driven a manual car before and had to get the guy selling it to me to teach me how to drive it. Poor people on the road with me that night!! Couldn't figure out how to turn off the high beams, though the headlights were broken. Every time I see people with their high beams on I remember Vincent washing the headlights when we filled up with petrol saying "more power". Oh there was no fuel guage on the car either so we had to estimate when the petrol was low.

Sleeping in the back of the car that only had bare metal and getting major buises on my hips.. then deciding that youth hostels were a better option.

The hot baths at Manganui and Rotarua.

The old nurses home that was a newly formed Youth Hostel and we were its first guests.

Bungee Jumping not once but twice in Queenstown.

Crashing my car (ok that one wasn't good)

Travelling by light plane to Stewart Island.

Anyway this is a bizarre way of saying that it wasn't all bad. We did some fun things, I blocked my family out and for that I'm sorry, but it was a stepping stone in what is my life. I was shaped by that experience.

Things I missed ten years ago was the Threadbo disaster, the memorial for that was last week, I just don't have the same feelings the rest of Australia has about Stuart Diver.

The day we left NZ was the day Princess Diana was killed. The cab driver (how did we afford a cab???) told us and we did not believe him. When we got back to Australia was when we actually believed that she had been killed.

So that was 10 years ago!

Getting cranky.

My dear little boy is sad.

I don't like him being said.

According to him, he is no longer cool because of his haircut. How can that be so? As I said to him, he has the same personality, the kids no longer notice that his hair is cut off, but he is still miserable! I hate it. How can kids be so cruel to each other. How can it matter how long your hair is.

Sick Chook.

My darling little boy has "the flu". Well he did yesterday and had me so worried. Burning up with a fever, not able to get up and do "Mark stuff", lying on the couch watching telly, barely eating, wanting cuddles all day (ok that is a Mark thing).
Kept him home again today, and he's a different kid, bored out of his brain. He cleaned out my utensil drawer as it had saw dust from my disintegrating kitchen, so he was washing, he's making stuff. I got him the most amazing book, and would recommend it for anyone with boys. Dangerous Book for Boys, it has how to make the worlds best paper aeroplane, how to make a sling shot, how to make batteries, information on history and famous battles, knots, secret inks, rules for 3 footy codes and cricket, how to build a tree house. Mark is keen for me to write down the whole list, but I won't.

How about a catch up.

• Jamie and I have both finished the new Harry Potter book. I'm gonna have to re-read the last few chapters, cos I got a bit excited and went too fast.

• Mark played AFL - the Wallsend Swans - and the team is still hopeless. But the spirit amongst the parents is better. I think we got one goal this week.

• We went to see "The Simpsons Movie" today. Mark loved it and I nodded off - an expensive way to have a nap. Bart skateboarding nude was hilarious.

• Mark got a super duper hair cut - a #4 - he hates it, but its growing already.

• He also got his own digital camera. A 5 megapixel one, its better than mine. A bit cheap and nasty looking, but its his own camera just the same.

• Jamie has had the 'flu and he's a terrible sick person, sits on top of the heater and asks for cups of tea, he is such an old man.

• I've had some serious ups and downs with my legs, had some REALLY bad nights despite medication. But I'm perserving.

• I'm very excited about Big Brother. I wasn't supposed to watch it at all this year, but I'll blame Mark. He loves Friday Night Live, so we started watching that, and then it progressed.... and now I'm HOOKED. I really want Zach to win. But I'm fairly certain he won't. Last night's FNL was the funniest ever. Travis felt sick after being spun around and he crawled so slowly - ok in type that wasn't funny, but by crikey it was.

Renovating.

These photos were from a few days ago (so you can tell that I found my camera, on the computer table under all the renovation stuff).

The gyprock one is where Jamie took off the plaster wall before it was replaced! The green weird looking one is the cupboard doors in that room that we have had to scrape off all of the paint, its a disgusting job and I hate it with a passion, but you need a good work surface before you can start.

Hopefully the sanding will be finished this week and we can paint (and finish it) next weekend.

HE'S HOME

YIPPEE. My baby is home again. He's taller, more handsome than I remembered. This is a photo of him and a little pressie that I got for him.

Post Titles

Have you noticed for this month.... GOOD, BAD, GOOD, YUCKY.

Must mean today is GOOD. MARK COMES HOME. I'm so happy. I miss that little guy.

Now yucky...

So this is weird.

Worked Saturday late shift. Have to work Sunday morning shift.

NO SLEEP

Yes that is correct. Not a hint of sleep. I tried. I lay down, I curled up, I sat on the couch, I lay on the couch, I sat in the recliner, I lay in the recliner. Watched a movie that I know off by heart, thinking it would send me sleep... but not this little black duck. I think I'll ask Ainslie to take the team leader role in the morning - what do you reckon??

I took all of my normal medications (and avid readers of this blog - the two of you out there!) will know what they are. But my doc added an antidepressant this week and he said in "rare cases" it can cause hightened anxiety, restlessness, nausea. Well guess what I have all three!!!!!! Should pass in a day or two. Had a funny sensation of minor halucinations too - like a kaleidascope and a big number 5 spinning inside my eyes. Felt good in the day time but this damned night time I hate it. I feel all dizzy and plain yucky and don't know what to do. Its freaking me out a little bit.

Jamie is so wise, I woke him up at 5.30am to ask for some advice and he came up with the most amazing suggestion. I love him so much.

Feeling GOOD

Ahhh, we just got home from watching Harry Potter... what a fabbo film. I loved it, scared in a few spots, but I loved it all the same.

Bring on 21st July for the final book...... what will I do after that last one?????
She just has to keep going, unless Jamie's prediction is right.

I completely SUCK at....

riding a bike.

We bought a bike for me on the weekend after I got completely depressed after shopping for clothes. I don't understand how gears work and my thighs are KILLING me. Do I go up or down in the gears when I go up or down a hill???? Jo and Mark G please help me!!

Today is the first day of my weekend and its only Thursday.

I have lost my digi camera and I don't like that. Do you know where it is?

There is a new scrap shop called "Shop and Crop" near me, on my way home from work no less and its gorgeous and a little bit tiny. I got some new love Elsie papers yesterday and I can't wait to play with them.

Jamie and I are planning on going to Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix tonight.

I am going to buy some slippers.

I want to put some Christmas Pressies on layby (it will be my first ever layby) for Marko.

I want to finish cleaning Marko's room in readiness for his return.

Poor little Sheena has croup, but is still a darling.

We are setting up a webhosting business, does anyone know anyone how needs a website hosted, contact me and we can help you out and give you a great deal. No website as yet, but its in the pipeline. **watch this space**

Good inroads`

• Can see the kitchen table.
• Eating a healthy lunch.
• Got my hair tidied up.
• Booked a weekend away!!

Not bad for a Thursday morning (and I didn't turn the tv on)

Battling.

Yes, I'm back in the battle against the computer. Very annoying actually. There is so much stuff that needs to be done, and what do I do - blog surf. Not very educational, not really a good use of my time, but that is what I do.

Woke up with Jamie at 5am... then didn't get up to 8.30, felt very decadent. Blog surfed for about an hour, now I'm going to do some housework and then get my hair trimmed.

Then off to work for day 7 of my 8 day stretch. Working tonight with the two new graduates Rachel and Brad, they are both fantastic (and maybe a little nervous still) so should be a good night.

We are having gale force winds *again*, the back room windows are rattling, but the sun is out.
Have to put out some towels, should be dry by the time I get to work.

Off to tidy - first step - kitchen table.... I wonder what it looks like???

Getting there.

Some of you may know we started renovating!
Not something we planned.
Decided to take down the wall between the computer room and the back door. The wall was put up to make a 5th bedroom, we don't need 5 bedroom, we need a nice light room - hopefully with built-in cupboards.
Needless to say all of the office is now deposited around the house. This computer is on the kitchen table. The office chair is in the middle of the kitchen itself. The filing cabinet is next to the fridge.... mess.... so today I'm making my "in-the-middle-of-a-renovation" house habitable again. Kitchen looks lovely. Need some enthusiasm to keep going though.

Conversation with Mark

On the way to school this morning, we heard on the radio that there was a burst water main on Kooragang Island - like Newcastle needs more water - this got Mark thinking. He asked if "it was like the storm a few weeks ago?"
"Not quite Marky, what do you remember about the storm?" Thinking this is a Princess Diana or earthquake moment for Newcastle and could be put into Mark's psyche....
"It rained and then it flooded"
This is the only comment he made on his own. Five full days of rain, cars all over the road, no sport for 3 weeks, no electricity for a full day, cold and wet... all I got was "it rained and then it flooded" Oh dear!

My Storm Story

Ok its a little late, the storm in Newie was two weeks ago now, but couldn't be bothered updating blog. Friday the 8th June.....

• It was wild and woolly day, the rain drops were so big that one drop got you wet. Mark wasn't interested in school, but I found his raincoat and dutifully sent him off to OOSH (Out Of School Hours care).
  
• Mark's birthday was the following Monday (12th June) and we hadn't bought any pressies for him yet. Jamie was in desperate need of a haircut (and if you know Jamie you know its really desperate when he needs the haircut), so he went to get the haircut and I bought a fishtank and CD for the little man. Taking the pressies out the car was an experience, it was quite dark despite being 10 in the morning, the rain was incredible. Ran back into Jesy found Jamie and did a little more shopping.
• Got home and Jamie played on his computer... I lay around watching my re-runs (I tend to record all of my favourite shows so I can re-watch).
• Time for work - left the house at 12.45 for a 1.30pm start. I like to get to work a bit early so I can have a coffee and a catch up, need to know if I'm gonna have a bad shift or not.
• Went to drive down our pathetic excuse for a freeway, a little stretch of road between Sandgate and Jesmond, drove around the roundabout and saw a tree was down, ok I'll drive past Jesmond Shopping Centre went there earlier and it was ok, not flooded. I was listening to ABC radio so knew that there was some flash flooding issues. There was a HUGE line up of cars, one directly in front of me and another behind me, I had no where to go. I was in the commodore - my blue one which is slightly lowered. Saw the storm water canal, it looked very full. I have never seen more than a small amount of water in them before. This was FULL and RISING. Next thing I noticed was water on the road, not only was the storm water canal full, but it was over flowing and water was about a foot deep over the road. As I said before, I couldn't go back, so I went forward and was terrified that the car would slide sideways and wash me into the drain. I got through that patch of water, it was around 50-100 meters in length, I was shaking, I checked my brakes by pumping them, luckily no water came into the car. There have been many stories of water coming over doors, over the bonnet, cars getting washed away. Eight people were killed by the rising waters, a family of 5, a couple who were washed off a bridge in Clarencetown and a man who got out of his 4WD and was washed down a storm water canal (he was the husband of a woman I met at the OOSH conference several weeks ago) Very sad.
• I called Jamie the second I got to work and asked him to collect Mark from school, just in case roads got closed. "Nah he'll be alright" I could strangle that man sometimes. He got him at 5pm - pitch black, the road near the railway track was flooded and some cars were swimming, but he had the 4WD and was ok. Mark was a little spooked but was ok. He watched Friday Night Games and was happy.
  
• Work was a bit strange... everyone kept looking out the window, trees had fallen down, but I felt out of the loop. Then it came to night duty, Lauren rang to say she will try her hardest but might be late, then I called Monika and asked if she'd be able to make it. She sounded surprised to hear from me and said yes. Ten minutes later she called back and said that all the roads were closed and she couldn't - obviously she thought about it a bit!! So I stayed for night duty. One of patients wife could not get home due to the rain, so she stayed over. Supposedly that happened a bit over the hospital. The heirachy arrived late and disaster planning started.
  
• By this stage the Pasha Bulker had beached itself, there were three other ships that were pushing out to sea at full pelt with not much success (they did eventually have success)
• Work was good. Lauren is an amazing nurse and I think she is wonderful.
• Left work at 7.30am, all my morning staff arrived.
• Got home, lots of trees down, cars all over the road, but no flooding. Strangely quiet and eerie feeling. Marko peeked out his bedroom window and then wouldn't leave my side.
• Jamie didn't wake up until 10.30ish. I only had some naps throughout the day and we had NO POWER.
• The fridge was off, the tv doesn't work, the heater is off, no kettle, no computer, no telephones (Jamie's mobile did work, mine didn't), no radio. Very strange, makes you think of how much electricity there is in the world and how 3rd world people occupy themselves. Mark wasn't coping, we played Uno, lego but the light was terrible. Jamie REALLY wasn't coping. But he did busy himself with an old car radio with the wires cut off at the back, attaching new cable, using the camp gas cooktop to heat up his soldering iron and connected it to a speaker. We tuned the radio into ABC radio and found out that we didn't have it bad. Many houses were flooded, trees down everywhere, cars destroyed and as I mentioned before people lost their life.
• Some fun facts - we ate ice cream for breakfast so we wouldn't lose it. Found the gas cooktop we bought for camping to make cups of tea, found the camp lantern that Connie and Paul gave Jamie for Christmas so we could have light once it went dark at 4.30pm
• We (I mean I) cooked pasta for tea.
• By 6pm I was exhausted, so Mark and I went to bed. Jamie stayed up and made his usual phone calls - does anyone know who he talks to all the time????
• I think we were both asleep by 6.30pm!! Weird.
• At 10pm, Marko had gone to his own bed and Jamie had come to bed and then there was a big BBBLLLLIIIIPPPPP and the electricity came back on. We jumped up and yelled "LETS GO WATCH TV" Terrible I know!
• Went for a drive around to look at the damage. So many trees uprooted.
• Thursday morning we went to see the grouned ship "Pasha Bulker" and those are the photos we took.
  

Its now 2 weeks after that, Newcastle is healing. Still no sport. Road near Heaton Greta is finally opened, and the Pasha might get out ***unless it breaks up.

A conundrum.

Is it doesn't
Or dosn't

I think I win.

Jamie

This is the best photo I could get of Jamie. Doesn't he pose well?

Random stuff.

Not much happening. I'm actually enjoying work at the moment (maybe its a solar eclipse).

Off to Sydney for the weekend for an Out of School Hours Care (OOSH) conference. I'm looking forward to it so much. Nice to get away from the house, nice to spend time with Liz and Tracey, nice to think about stuff other than liver disease and poo!

Here are a couple of random photos I found on my camera... a couple of the dogs, very cute close ups taken by Mark the budding photographer. The other is his AFL football team "The Swans" that is my little ruck rover crouching down in the middle.

Hello long neglected blog.

Hi,
I've not been at the computer for some time (maybe I'm winning that battle). Now its a battle with the tv!!
My legs are still in control of my life, but to a less painful degree. I still don't feel "up" to doing stuff. Quite annoying really. My tablets seem to be "holding me" for the time being, but I feel I am becoming immune to them again. My next strategy is to find a cheap (haha) natropath and see if they can help. Maybe a chiropractor as well.
Mark now has a best friend, Madeline from over the back fence. They adore each other.
Jamie is going good, no complaints other than he has discovered Battlefield again after about a month of not playing it. The business we wanted to buy didn't pan out for us, but what can you do? Not very much actually. Try to find something else.
I enquired at a local District Nursing Service that does home visits for Vetrans and some private clients. They pay is GREAT, the hours are great, but they have no jobs at the moment. Then I'll loose the fantastic maternity arrangements in the public health system if I go private - that is should I ever fall pregnant!!
Looking forward to Connie and Paul's visit on the weekend.
Anyway just a quick update.